Ball launching device

Abstract

A ball launching device for children that has an outer housing, an inner bowl and a launch assembly. The inner bowl has an inner surface with an outwardly curved cone shaped wall and a vertical linear wall. The launch assembly is connected to the bowl. When the bowl rotates at high speeds, the curved cone shaped wall enables balls to ascend up the inner surface and eventually propel out of the ball launching device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A ball launching device for children, the device comprising: 
       a bowl having an inner surface and a cone shaped wall which extends outwardly in an upward direction, having an upper end which is opened; and  
       a launch assembly positioned within the ball launching device and coupled to the bowl, the ball launching assembly adapted to rotate the bowl, whereby when the bowl is rotating at a high speed, the cone shaped wall enables a ball to ascend up the inner surface of the bowl and eventually propel out of the device.  
     
     
       2. The ball launching device of  claim 1 , wherein the bowl has a linear wall that leads to the cone shaped wall. 
     
     
       3. The ball launching device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical member with a cone shaped top disposed within the bowl and secured to the launch assembly, wherein the cylindrical member does not rotate with respect to the bowl. 
     
     
       4. The ball launching device of  claim 3 , wherein the cone shaped top has at least one ear extending outwardly from the cone shaped top. 
     
     
       5. The ball launching device of  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical member is positioned at the center of the bowl so as to form a gap between the cylindrical member and the inner surface of the bowl. 
     
     
       6. The ball launching device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the bowl has a scalloped lining. 
     
     
       7. The ball launching device of  claim 1 , wherein the launch assembly has a pulley energized by a motor to rotate the bowl, the launch assembly further includes a casing for housing the pulley and the motor, the casing balances the bowl as it rotates in the device. 
     
     
       8. The ball launching device of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer housing, the outer housing having a bottom portion with feet to stabilize the device and an outwardly curved top portion. 
     
     
       9. The ball launching device of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for initial rotation of the bowl that enables foreign objects therein to fall to a bottom surface of the bowl. 
     
     
       10. A ball launching device for children, the device comprising: 
       a bowl having an inner surface and a cone shaped wall which extends outwardly in an upward direction, having an upper end which is opened;  
       a launch assembly positioned within the ball launching device and coupled to the bowl, the ball launching assembly adapted to rotate the bowl; and  
       a means for preventing foreign objects from exiting the rotating bowl, whereby when the bowl is rotating at a high speed, the cone shaped wall enables a ball to ascend up the inner surface of the bowl and eventually propel out of the device.  
     
     
       11. The ball launching device of  claim 10 , wherein the bowl has a linear wall that leads to the cone shaped wall. 
     
     
       12. The ball launching device of  claim 10 , wherein the means for preventing foreign objects from exiting the rotating bowl includes a cylindrical member with a cone shaped top disposed within the bowl and secured to the launch assembly, wherein the cylindrical member does not rotate with respect to the bowl. 
     
     
       13. The ball launching device of  claim 12 , wherein the cone shaped top has at least one ear extending outwardly from the cone shaped top. 
     
     
       14. The ball launching device of  claim 12 , wherein the cylindrical member is positioned at the center of the bowl so as to form a gap between the cylindrical member and the inner surface of the bowl. 
     
     
       15. The ball launching device of  claim 10 , wherein the means for preventing foreign objects from exiting the rotating bowl includes a scalloped lining along at least a portion of the inner surface of the bowl. 
     
     
       16. The ball launching device of  claim 10 , wherein the launch assembly has a pulley energized by a motor to rotate the bowl, the launch assembly further includes a casing for housing the pulley and the motor, the casing balances the bowl as it rotates in the device. 
     
     
       17. The ball launching device of  claim 10 , further comprising an outer housing, the outer housing having a bottom portion with feet to stabilize the device and an outwardly curved top portion. 
     
     
       18. The ball launching device of  claim 10 , further comprising a means for initial rotation of the bowl that enables foreign objects therein to fall to a bottom surface of the bowl. 
     
     
       19. A ball launching device for children, the device comprising: 
       an outer housing, the outer housing having a bottom portion and an outwardly curved top portion;  
       a bowl disposed within the outer housing, the bowl having an inner surface and a cone shaped wall which extends outwardly in an upward direction;  
       a launch assembly positioned within the outer housing and coupled to the bowl, the launch assembly adapted to rotate the bowl,  
       wherein when the bowl rotates at a high speed, the cone shaped wall enables balls therein to ascend up the inner surface of the bowl and eventually propel out of the device.  
     
     
       20. The ball launching device of  claim 19 , wherein the bowl has a linear wall that leads to the cone shaped wall. 
     
     
       21. The ball launching device of  claim 19 , further comprising a cylindrical member with a cone shaped top disposed within the bowl and secured to the launch assembly, wherein the cylindrical member does not rotate with respect to the bowl. 
     
     
       22. The ball launching device of  claim 21 , wherein the cone shaped top has at least one ear extending outwardly from the cone shaped top. 
     
     
       23. The ball launching device of  claim 21 , wherein the cylindrical member is positioned at the center of the bowl so as to form a gap between the cylindrical member and the inner surface of the bowl. 
     
     
       24. The ball launching device of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the bowl has a scalloped lining. 
     
     
       25. The ball launching device of  claim 19 , wherein the launch assembly has a pulley energized by a motor to rotate the bowl, the launch assembly further includes a casing for housing the pulley and the motor, the casing balances the bowl as it rotates in the device. 
     
     
       26. The ball launching device of  claim 19 , further comprising a means for initial rotation of the bowl that enables foreign objects therein to fall to a bottom surface of the bowl.